Sáhara
/ˈsaxaɾa/masculine
The English phrase "sahara" is translated into Spanish as Sáhara. Wiktionary also lists Sahara.
Meaning: desert (name)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sáhara | /ˈsaxaɾa/ /ˈsaaɾa/ |
masculine |
| Sahara | /saˈaɾa/ /saˈxaɾa/ |
masculine |
Which one should you use?
While both versions are used, Sáhara (with the accent on the first a) is the standard orthographic spelling in Spanish to indicate where the stress falls.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, one might use the term El Sáhara or El desierto del Sáhara. In Latin America, the most prevalent way to say 'Sahara' is El Sahara.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a masculine noun and is almost always preceded by the definite article el.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsaxaɾa/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word Sáhara is often used as a shorthand for the 'Western Sahara' region Sáhara Occidental, leading to political discussions about sovereignty that are not present when simply discussing the desert's geography.
- While Sáhara is a proper noun, Spanish speakers sometimes use the phrase un Sáhara metaphorically to describe a place that is extremely dry, barren or devoid of life.
- The term Saharaui is used in Spanish to specifically describe the people and the distinct culture of the Sahara region.
Examples in context
- Acá hace más calor que en el Sahara.This area is hotter than the Sahara desert.This sentence compares the heat of one area to the Sahara.Tatoeba #3842857 by leoruilova, translation #3842394 by Amastan
- Es difícil encontrar oasis en el Sahara.It's difficult to find oases in the Sahara Desert.This sentence discusses the difficulty of finding oases in the Sahara.Tatoeba #9987963 by manufrutos, translation #9987658 by Eldad
- El Sahara es el mayor desierto del mundo.The Sahara is the largest desert in the world.This sentence describes the Sahara as the largest desert in the world.Tatoeba #1279684 by Shishir, translation #54059 by CK
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are discussing a geography book.
- SofíaMira este mapa del Sáhara.Look at this map of the Sahara.
- DanielEs impresionante lo grande que es.It is impressive how big it is.
- Sofía¿Crees que podrías sobrevivir en el Sáhara?Do you think you could survive in the Sahara?
- DanielNo, Daniel no cree que sea posible.No, Daniel doesn't think it's possible.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sahara” translations and entries Sáhara, Sahara, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
